Elimination cash bail in illinois puts the state on a path to look like a horror movie, argues Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell. As Chicago, the nation’s third largest city, continues to deal with a rampant crime wave, the state is preparing for the SAFE-T Act of 2021 that will take effect on January 1, 2023. As a result of the bill’s removal of cash bail, Caldwell said in a New York Post op-ed that one of America’s most violent cities would begin to function like the fictional cities in “The Purge” movie series, which is given citizens one night a year when they are allowed to commit whatever crime they want without consequence. Caldwell’s younger brother, Christian, was shot and killed in Chicago earlier this year. He was 18 years old. Gianno Caldwell and his brother, Christian, in their last photo together. (Fox News Digital) In July, Cook County Crime Stoppers offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to arrests in Christian’s murder. Christian was out with friends on June 24 when he was shot. Two other victims, a 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were shot and wounded in the same shooting. Christian did not know the other victims. Nearly three months later, police have yet to identify any suspects in Christian’s murder. “It’s been two months of hell,” Caldwell told Fox News Digital about the two-month mark since Christian’s death. “As I think about it and think about it, I’m almost in tears. I still can’t believe my little brother was murdered. I think about him every day. I get calls from family members asking me to cry… on a regular basis.” CHICAGO POLICE LET SUSPECT VEHICLE LEAVE AFTER CAUGHT ON CAMERA CAUGHT WITH TROUBLE, REPORTS SAY But Caldwell is concerned about more than eliminating cash bail for violent offenders. “To make matters worse, offenders released with electronic monitoring devices must violate their parole for 48 hours before it is considered a crime,” he wrote. “In the state’s largest county — Cook County, which includes Chicago — at any given time, there are more than 3,000 people wearing an ankle monitor. That includes about 100 who have been accused of murder’. Local law enforcement officials are also concerned about the law. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Officials in Orland Park, Illinois, a village about an hour outside of Chicago, adopted a resolution this month demanding that state lawmakers work to fix problems with the SAFE-T Act, including “Unreasonable limitation of police discretion for arrests. … Imposing unreasonable police certification and decertification standards … And violating victims’ rights as outlined in Illinois law.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a rally at the Federal Building Plaza on April 27, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Illinois JB Pritzker is running for re-election in November, and Republicans are using the SAFE-T Act as proof that the one-term governor is soft on crime. “The Illinois officials responsible for this law will have the blood of every innocent victim on their hands unless they reverse course before January 1st,” Caldwell wrote. “The people most at risk are the very black and brown people they claim to support. But they will be the first victims of criminals when they are released.” Fox News’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report Max Thornberry is an associate editor at Fox News Digital. He can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @Max_Thornberry
